SSL accelerationÂ or SSL offload is the ability for a load balancer to establish a secure tunnel with the client thus in most cases replacing the requirement for the web server to perform SSL.

In order for the load balancer to perform this function it must be configured with an SSL certificate either self generated or signed by a certificate authority. By defaultÂ SSL is initiated to the server on port 443, as such, the load balancer should be configured to either terminate this or simply pass it straight through to the web server.

Some load balancers offer the facility to import and export certificates from common web servers such as MS IIS and Apache.

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